Shades of grey
11 Aug 2010
There are enough quality young players of colour in South Africa to ensure quotas are no longer necessary at schools level, writes GRANT BALL in SA Rugby magazine.
The U18 Craven Week is meant to be the pinnacle of the South African schoolboy rugby season, but since its inception in 1964, its selection system has been flawed. In the early days, during apartheid, the best black schoolboys weren’t allowed to play, and in post-1994 South Africa, some of the best white players have missed out, in many cases because of the quota system.
For this year’s Craven Week held in Welkom, nine of the players in each 22-man squad had to be players of colour, with five on the field for the entire match on day one, four on day two, and five again on the Saturday.
However, the 50-50 racial quota for the SA Schools side was scrapped this year. Fourteen white players were named in the match 22 and the general consensus was that all eight players of colour had been selected on merit.
Saru’s high-performance manager Herman Masimla acknowledges that Craven Week is the envy of the rest of the rugby-playing world. But if the tournament doesn’t help to produce good results for age-group national teams, it’s not reaching its objective.
The SA U18 team’s 45-13 defeat to their English counterparts last year was a wake-up call, as was the SA U20 side’s third successive bronze medal at the Junior World Championship.
‘This is an elite programme, so we want the best,’ says Masimla. ‘This year there was a synergy between rewarding players who performed at Craven Week, and the requirements of producing a squad capable of winning at U20 level.’
But if SA Schools sides are to be selected on merit in future, shouldn’t the provincial teams do the same?
Western Province U18 coach Chris October, who fulfilled the same role with last year’s SA Schools outfit, believes quota selections have played a valuable role in a unique country like South Africa, but that there’s no longer a need for them.
‘At schools level, we’re able to pick on merit,’ he says. ‘You just have to look at the composition of the SA U20 side to see that we don’t require quotas anymore.’
October notes that certain players of colour are immediately labelled as quota selections, even in cases where they’re actually better than the white players in the same position. He says the only way this stereotyping will stop is if quotas are dropped.
‘Speaking as a previously disadvantaged person, if you talk to all black players, 99% of them will tell you they don’t want to be tagged as a quota player. They all want to be selected on merit alone.
‘We want a situation where we just regard the players as human beings and then select the side. If all 15 of the best players are black or all 15 are white in a particular year, then so be it. Those teams must just be selected.
‘It’s important that the work is done at grassroots level. If all South Africans are being given an equal opportunity, players will come through naturally and we can select teams on merit.’
Western Province, Eastern Province, Boland and Border regularly meet the transformation requirements at U18 level on merit, and at times exceed them. The problem is that inland unions, such as the Golden Lions, Blue Bulls and Free State, don’t have as many players of colour to select from.
This has led to many individuals from coastal areas being given bursaries to schools up north, but Lions U18 coach Gollie Gouws, who was October’s assistant with SA Schools last year, says it’s still tough finding enough quality players in those regions, and that the quota for each union should depend on the number of black players in their region.
‘At the Lions’ final trials, we only had 42 black players out of 112 schools to choose from. Twenty of those 42 have to be selected [nine for Craven Week and 11 for the 22-man Academy Week squad]. To put that into context, only one player of colour at our final trials had been playing rugby at one of our high schools for all five years. We had to bring the rest in from the Eastern Cape.’
Gouws says transformation is about picking a black player over a white one when they possess similar abilities, but in certain cases the players aren’t comparable.
‘The numbers are favoured heavily against white players coming through. It would be good to have a little bit of relief in terms of the numbers, because we don’t want to be unfair to white players, which is the case at the moment. We are losing white players to other unions and to rugby.’
Selecting the best squad of 22 always creates problems as it’s a subjective process, where coaches and selectors will favour certain individuals. However, in the past five years there have been some highly contentious omissions from Craven Week.
Four players who missed out on selection for their provinces are Bjorn Basson, Francois Hougaard, Mathew Turner and PW van Vuuren.
Springbok wing Basson’s ommission from Border’s Craven Week side was a case of talent not being identified as other black wingers were selected ahead of him.
Another current Bok, Francois Hougaard, missed out on Western Province Craven Week selection due to quotas, and he eventually moved to the Bulls.
Turner was the country’s leading try-scorer in schoolboy rugby in 2006 (28 in 17 matches) and he added another 146 points with the boot, but surprisingly he wasn’t deemed good enough to play for Western Province. Turner did play for WP U19 the following year, but when he wasn’t selected for the SA U20 or SA Sevens sides after being the Varsity Cup’s leading try-scorer in 2008, he turned his back on South Africa. He now plays for Bristol and the England Sevens side.
Van Vuuren’s case is an extraordinary one. Emphasising how difficult it is for provinces such as Free State to fill their Craven Week quota, the Grey College 1st XV hooker wasn’t selected in his Grade 11 year, with his place being taken by a schoolmate who was in the 5th XV.
Van Vuuren, though, was selected for Craven Week the following year and went on to play for SA Schools and SA U20. He says his mental strength prevented him from becoming disillusioned like other players in similar situations.
‘It was an awful time. It really sucked because I’d worked hard to make it into the Grey 1st XV. To then not make Free State’s Craven Week side – which is a weakened Grey side – because of quotas, was a setback.
For me, the main thing was to not get upset, lose confidence and think that I wasn’t good enough to play at that level. I chose to look at the positives. I’ve always said, if you’re good enough, you’ll make it – it may just take a bit longer.
‘Quotas are not a bad thing, as they are helping to make the game more representative, and the guy who took my place wasn’t a bad guy. I wasn’t mad at him, because it wasn’t his choice. It was just an irritating situation.
‘At senior level we see that the best players always come through. There aren’t quotas at senior provincial level because unions have to pay their players, and they can’t afford to contract sub-standard guys. The Boks also select the best players possible, with the exception of one or two surprises.’
SA Rugby magazine has an extremely reliable source who says a similar situation to Van Vuuren’s occurred with this year’s Western Province Craven Week side.
A black player from a local school had been identified as a talent for the future due to his size and skill, but he was dropped from his school’s 1st XV after a poor season and his place was ironically filled by another black player. Yet he was still selected for WP, even though he couldn’t play trials because he was out for five weeks due to injury.
However, October denies this. ‘I help select the side, and I seriously don’t know anything about that.’
Gouws says there are many cases where the black player is the best in his position, but in the few instances when the player clearly isn’t good enough, it does him more harm than good to be selected. He adds that some players of colour drop their standards at trials because they realise there are certain spots in a squad earmarked for quota players.
‘Sometimes quota players measure themselves against the other quota players in their position at trials,’ says Gouws. ‘Instead of measuring themselves against the 12 best wings, they compete against the three best black wings.
‘We have good young black players who are coming through on merit. Monde Hadebe, who played hooker for SA Schools in 2008, is the perfect example; he came through on his own ability. If the guys are good enough, that’s wonderful and they must be selected. The problem is when you’re forced to pick them.
‘In the past, the SA Schools selectors were obliged to look at black players in certain positions, such as hooker, scrumhalf and the utility backs. They picked guys so they wouldn’t get fingers pointed at them.
‘But last year we had to pick a 56kg scrumhalf from Dale [Bongi Kobese], because the Paul Roos captain [Rick Schroeder] was injured after Craven Week. That meant we had the eighth or ninth best scrumhalf playing against England U18. I looked at all his stats after the physical testing, and his muscle percentage and tone were poor. Don’t get me wrong, he’s a good player, but in a match of that nature, he was found out.’
Considering all these factors, it’s no surprise that the SA Schools side was embarrassed 45-13 by their England counterparts.
Unfortunately, we’ve seen this story before. In 2005, diminutive Mandilakhe Tile from Dale was selected for SA Schools, and a year later he moved up to the Bulls. He hasn’t played for a single representative side since.
Tile is not alone and from the SA Schools side that lost 30-24 to SA Academy five years ago, similar stories exist for Charlton Prinsloo, Riacco Eilerd and Malungisa Nkosi, even though they’re only 23.
Dries van der Wal is considered an authority on schools rugby after coaching Grey Bloem for over 20 years from the mid-80s. He was involved with Free State Schools for 10 years and SA Schools for six until he stepped down in 2007, and as an educationalist he’s watched the game and country change.
Like October and Gouws, he’s emphatic that quotas have served their purpose, pointing to the large number of players coming through in various positions at top 20 schools such as Paul Roos, Paarl Gym, Glenwood, Selborne, Grey PE, and Maritzburg College.
‘South African schools are doing their utmost to transform the game,’ says Van der Wal. ‘The coastal regions don’t struggle with quota numbers, but the interior does because there are less people of colour who play rugby. There are positives and negatives to quotas, and some good rugby players have come through because of them. But we’ve reached a point where we can pick teams on merit. There are brilliant young players coming through – recent Craven Weeks have been filled with them.’
Van der Wal doesn’t believe coaches will start to ignore black players if quotas are done away with, because they will continue to select their best team.
‘I listen to the coaches and the way they speak, and there has been a mind shift,’ he says. ‘They give credit to all the players – no matter what colour. There are very few coaches who see race at our school. We know we must go for the best players because we have to produce results. We are very positive about developing players of colour.
‘We must also remember that the country has changed since 1994, and some of those coaches’ best friends are black. Of course you get exceptions – from both whites and blacks – but young people have forgotten about the past and they want to move on and forget about the black-white, quota thing.’
Van der Wal wants quotas at Craven Week to be phased out over the next few years.
‘Many of us coaches go out and develop players of colour because we know we need them and they add value. We can’t do away with quotas immediately, but they should be reduced from year to year. For example, next year they should drop it from nine to seven. There are more than enough black players for the SA Schools selectors.’
– This article first appeared in the August issue of SA Rugby magazine.
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337 Comments
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11 Aug 2010, 14:39 pm
SA rugby can never progress unless we stop with our obsession about racial quotas.Just because of the demographic makeup of a country does not mean that a sport should be reflective of this breakdown.If you look at some football sides(i.e France)..there demographic makeup and the team selection does not “fit”..but as these are the BEST players they get chosen.How long are we going to harp on about quotas…if we at some point arrive at 15 players of colour in the SA squad will we still be on about quotas.I can confirm that in the past two years we have lost at least 12 white (junior)players of potential because of this policy.Enough is enough..!!!
11 Aug 2010, 14:40 pm
@PissAnt(PissAnt)-99:
While we’re on the topic:
If the Chinese Politburo decreed that every boy in China must play rugby from now on, do you think China could beat NZ in rugby?
I sit back in anticipation while awaiting your answer.
11 Aug 2010, 14:42 pm
@Tacitus(Tacitus)-97:
Totally different scenrio which is why I mentioned transformation within society in our country as a primary factor.
In China hardly anyone plays or focuses heavily on rugby, and there is no change to that situation to speak of.
11 Aug 2010, 14:44 pm
@Spindoc(Spindoc)-101: Quotas a system promoted by the same politicians who want to promote the Media Tribunal. I rest my case. How about quotas in soccer?
I challenge anyone to define the race of a child born after 1994. Please do so within the legal context of the constitution. I makes me sick.
11 Aug 2010, 14:45 pm
@Yetirat(Yetirat)-94: Good story. Thanks for sharing that. I agree it’s partly about coaching and facilities, and therefore opportunities. There’s also no denying that there is still a distinct lack of “equalisation” as far as that is concerned, BUT this is not restricted to rugby, but all aspect of life, education, health, infrustructure etc. I’m all for redressing ALL of those in those areas at that level. But I have no hesitation in saying that it has no place on an international level. We simply cannot compromise on a level which reflects the best that our nation has to offer. Yes, there are arguments to be made for the fact that a guy like Makhaya Ntini was picked at a time in his career when he wasn’t in the top 4 fast bowlers in SA, but given the oppotunity, he certainly became one of the greatest ever, and the same may be the case, in time with a guy like Chilliboy. So it’s hard to take a “black and white” stance and leave no room for the obvious grey inbetween. But the fact remains that people are fast tracked above others due partly to the fact that they fit a profile racially that is acceptable to the political goals imposed by the powers that be.
I have come to accept that this is an unfortunate fact of life in SA, and certainly will admit, as I have above that there are many instances where selection is purely on merit, but there are other instances where clearly it isn’t. I may not agree with it but i do accept it, but to deny that it exists is what annoys me the most. I get accused of being closed minded by pointing it out, but I didn’t create the rules. Sadly, the world over, athletes from poorer communities have had to struggle more to achieve than athletes with more opportunities, and this will continue, particularly here.
11 Aug 2010, 14:45 pm
@Yetirat(Yetirat)-103:
NO, you misunderstand my point.
Assume every Chinese man plays rugby on a daily basis for the next 20 years. Will the Chinese be able to field a team in 20 years time – based purely on indigenous Chinese players – that could beat the All Blacks?
Yes or no?
11 Aug 2010, 14:45 pm
@Tacitus(Tacitus)-102:
I think we had this conversation before…
But in anycase to answer you no.
Rugby is as much as culture you associate with and enjoy as it is a sport.
I like rugby, I hate soccer.
It is just how I grew up.
I never had an affinity for the round-ball game, never developed any sort of love for it and find it utterly boring.
However, millions of people around the world have a compeltely different view than me about the sport.
Same reason I love cricket, and I hate baseball (I played both at club level).
If no interest is created for individuals in a sport from a young age, and supported through his immediate social and cultural structures I think you will struggle to estabslish any kind of success of such a sport with that person or community.
11 Aug 2010, 14:47 pm
@PissAnt(PissAnt)-99:
Which schools are those because thse schools I grew up playing against are certainly all offering it and schoolboy log still has all the familiar names on it?
11 Aug 2010, 14:49 pm
@Yetirat(Yetirat)-108:
Gauteng schools, specifically in the East Rand and central areas.
11 Aug 2010, 14:49 pm
@PissAnt(PissAnt)-107:
OK, take it one step further then, since you are seemingly deliberately hiding behind a non-existent excuse.
Assume the Chinese have another cultural revolution and for national pride they embark on a campaign to become a leading rugby nation. Assume they all start playing rugby.
Apart from culture, interest and other “soft” obstacles, do you see any OTHER reason why they could not beat the All Blacks in 20 years time, given their immense numerical advantage?
11 Aug 2010, 14:54 pm
@Tacitus(Tacitus)-110:
so following your logic…?
what you’re saying is that the government should decree that every black, coloured and indian male should play rugby…
then no whites would make the team…
so you are for transformation… you really ARE…!!
11 Aug 2010, 14:58 pm
@PissAnt(PissAnt)-107: Soccer is enjoyed all over the world because:
1. It’s the easiest game to play (something resembling a ball and perhaps a foot)
2. The majority are poor so they like the easiest game.
3. Poor people are stupid, otherwise they wouldn’t be poor.
11 Aug 2010, 14:58 pm
boring topic and discussion
11 Aug 2010, 14:59 pm
@ufo(ufo)-111: Indians playing rugby, now that I would pay to see. Those little skinny legs, broken into pieces.
11 Aug 2010, 15:00 pm
@Tacitus(Tacitus)-106:
Haha, you are not cross examining me in a court of law here, so please don’t try and corner me with the restriction of a “yes” or “no” answer to suit your argument.
If the entire population of China had been playing rugby for AS LONG as NZ, with the SAME level of priority placed on the sport that NZ do, then yes I think by sheer numbers they would be in a position to field a very competitive side.
The fact that you’ve picked a nation with perhaps one of the lowest average height per human figures in the world and put them up against NZ who field Islanders who are some of the most genetically athletic people in the world, has to be factored into the argument as well.
11 Aug 2010, 15:01 pm
@Tacitus(Tacitus)-110:
I am struggling to identify what point you are trying to make other than to disprove there is such a thing as strength in numbers…
If the Chinese, or any other non-or-almost-non existant rugby playing nation establishes the correct structures including having available the best available resources and have the numbers to feed and sustain and maintain them there is no reason they cannot be successful.
This obviously has to include establishing the game with structures and resources at all levels including age group levels, tertiary levels, club/provincial level spilling over to national level.
Employ the best and latest coaching and conditioning techniques and support it financially. Not to mention creating an interest and following for the game socially amongst its population…
Yes they will very well be successful.
But again, this wont happen and I fail to understand what you are trying to prove, or disprove.
Afterall, creating and establishing a culture or almost religious following to a sport like rugby has in some parts of the world (where it is very successful) does not happen in 20 years…
11 Aug 2010, 15:01 pm
@ufo(ufo)-111:
Are you deliberately misunderstanding me, or is my point geniunely so difficult to grasp?
I have never seen so much tiptoeing around a straighforward subject.
11 Aug 2010, 15:02 pm
@Tacitus(Tacitus)-110:
+1
11 Aug 2010, 15:02 pm
@Tacitus(Tacitus)-97: Well there we are getting into the arena of genetic suitability, as in the West Africans (and their American descendants) make great sprinters, East Africans make good distance athletes etc….
China is certainly starting to dominate sports where their genetic physical predisposition is compatible, such as gymnastics, diving, etc.
in the same vein many White South Africans have a certain amount of Dutch and German etc heritage, and as we know the Dutch are on average the tallest nation on earth, so it stands to reason that we would be able to compete in terms of physicality better than many other races/nations whatever you want to call it.
Similarly the Southern African black person is more likely to be built like a wing than a lock. Hence the stereotype. No amount of facilities and opportunity will change this trend, but will hopefully catch and develop the obvious exceptions to the rule like the Chillis, Mbetas etc.
Pointing out these differences doesn’t make me racist, on the contrary if the South African Sports administration was at all clever about this they would be focussing on improving areas where there is already a predisposition to compete successfully such as track athletics, boxing, distance running etc. By no means am I advocating ignoring a sport like Rugby, but we all know that it’s easier to take an 80% athlete who is naturally predisposed to a certain sport and make him 95% than taking a 50% athlete with natural challenges to overcome and making him 80%. This way the nation would gain more pride on the whole, we’d improve our sense of self belief and people wouldn;t be so confused all the time..
11 Aug 2010, 15:05 pm
@stormersboy(stormersboy)-119: Yes and Indians are built like accountants. Your point is a good one.
11 Aug 2010, 15:07 pm
@Tacitus(Tacitus)-117:
of i understand you tac…
was just pointing out the chasm in your logic…
11 Aug 2010, 15:09 pm
@ufo(ufo)-121:
grrrrrr… digital dyslexia again…
OH i understand you tac…
was just pointing out the chasm in your logic…
11 Aug 2010, 15:09 pm
@stormersboy(stormersboy)-105:
Agree with you completely. I’m completely against quotas at national level and even provincial level and Craven week.
I’ve always been in support of transformation at grass roots level, which requires time, planning and investment to succeed.
If that is done correctly there will be no need for quotas and you will get more of an in tune demographic reflection of the country in it’s national side naturally.
11 Aug 2010, 15:10 pm
@PissAnt(PissAnt)-116:
OK. Your mind is apparently totally closed to the obvious.
Points I thought I was making absolutely clear still elude you in the above posts – according to you.
So let me spell it out:
Even if all 1.4 billion Chinese became fanatical rugby fans and played the game for the next 50 years, they won’t stand a chance in hell to beat the All Blacks, unless the Chinese GENETICALLY increase their average height by about 5 inches, and their average lean muscle weight by about 40kg’s.
Because GENETICALLY they are too small and too weak. Why is this a taboo subject? Why is it not the first obstacle that springs to mind, instead of lack of rugby culture or tradition or whatever.
Chinese are midgets compared to Maoris. End of story.
I used the Chinese as an extreme example to prove the basic concept, but obviously it was not extreme enough for the closed minded among you. Maybe I should have used the pygmies of central Africa instead.
Once the PRINCIPLE is established, it is only a matter of degrees to bring the comparison back to the SA scenario.
Conclusion. It is not just a matter of numbers, rugby culture and structures. There is the big elephant in the room called GENETICS, that plays the biggest role of all.
Only when that discrepancy is more or less eradicated – as in when NZ play SA, or Aus or England or France – does it come down to superior structures and the other “softer” issues.
It is very obvious, in the end.
11 Aug 2010, 15:10 pm
@Yetirat(Yetirat)-115:
China only became a member of the IRB in 1998 and in 2007 had a an officially listed 4210 players
11 Aug 2010, 15:11 pm
More same old, same old…
On the one hand you have the realists (conveniently labelled as bigots, racist or verkramptes) and then on the other you have the Keo liberals (apologists for anything with a top-down prescription of “transformation” or perpetuation of (inverted)colour based selection practices)
And never the twain shall meet…
Don’t some of you get bored with this…
The pecliar reality of it all is that you have those that:
Talk left but walk right and those that
Talk right but actually walk left, in reality…
Think about it….
Most won’t though, too many high horses to dismount…
11 Aug 2010, 15:11 pm
@goyougoodthing2(goyougoodthing2)-120: LOL no but lets rather say that they are built more like spin bowlers than fast bowlers…..
And yea, maths is big in India. And China. Someone once told me (and I can;t remember whether they were talking about India or China) that the reason that they were naturally good at maths (diligence and work ethic aside) is that their language is set up in a certain way that it assists with the thought process from a younger age. Not sure of it’s true….
11 Aug 2010, 15:12 pm
chinese nba star yao ming stands 2,29 metres tall…
reckon there’s a few more like that hiding amongst a billion of his countrymen…
11 Aug 2010, 15:12 pm
@PissAnt(PissAnt)-116:
The thing is, we’re are talking about this hypothetical “cultural revolution”. But in reality, you can’t force a culture upon any family or community when your expected outcome is to generate willful sports players.
There is enough incentive for sports stars all over the world in every discipline.
How many blacks do you see in the world class swimming events? How many blacks do you see in the field events that don’t require running but emphasize tecnique?
How many whites do you see in the top-tier sprinting lineup?
But that’s basically where it ends.
The so-called “non-whites” simply don’t have the rugby-culture and where I’ve seen it, it is “nagemaak” and forced.
Thruth is,Habana is on the ropes (though I still believe he’s the best) and Gurthro is there by his sheer determination (he’s not the best scrummager, but I believe he’s good enough).
Other than that, there isn’t a position in the Springboks where a white player is the best.
There isn’t even a black player in every position in the Super14 in all the teams put together!!
So how much money and discrimination against our young (of all colours) are you still willing to throw at the situation??
11 Aug 2010, 15:12 pm
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-126: Pecliar = peculiar
11 Aug 2010, 15:16 pm
is it safe to say that blacks are genetically suited to do boxing, seeing that the highest number of saffa world champions comes from that human wasteland (read township) named Mdantsane in the Eastern Cape?
11 Aug 2010, 15:17 pm
@Tacitus(Tacitus)-110: My post 119 is not so much in opposition with anything you’ve said but rather in support of it. I just thought I’d elaborate on the whole “elephant in the room” issue.
11 Aug 2010, 15:19 pm
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-126:
it’s only boring because all you do is comment on the position that everyone else takes…
and never show the balls to state your own position…
it’s much easier to simply to everyone else’s opinions from the safe saddle of your own high horse… than to offer your own…
why don’t you comment on the discussion… contribute… and make clear your own thoughts and opinions…? i know they’d be very enlightening…
11 Aug 2010, 15:19 pm
@Transformation(Transformation)-131:
I have said that for ages. But only for specific weight catagories.
Like Bantam, Feather, straw etc.
They are great at it. Why deny it? Why not embrace it instead?
Just like the South and Central Americans.
11 Aug 2010, 15:20 pm
@ufo(ufo)-128: When I was in China I stayed in a hotel where the Bellhop was the tallest Asian I’ve ever seen. Apparently they come mostly from a certain region. Having said that when I worked in Hong Kong and in taking the metro to work I used to be able to look over most people’s heads the whole way down the line. The only time my view was obscured was by a “westerner” or “round eye” as the local liked to call us. I never challenged this because most of them looked like they were related to Chackie Chan or Bruce Lee…
11 Aug 2010, 15:21 pm
@Transformation(Transformation)-131:
How many black heavy weight world boxing champs has South Africa delivered? How many white?
Does it matter when it comes to a technically demanding sport of grace combined with speed, stamina, hand-eye coordination and a well thoughout, rehearsed and planned gameplan?
11 Aug 2010, 15:22 pm
@Transformation(Transformation)-131: @Tacitus(Tacitus)-134: Precisely! Embrace the differences. Not that there won’t be Black people who are able to be Springbok locks, just that there will be more that would be great Flyweight and Featherweight boxers. And wings.
11 Aug 2010, 15:22 pm
@Tacitus(Tacitus)-124:
Ah so we are back to genetics…
We also covered this subject before and we are simply repeating ourselves all over again.
Contrary to popular belief Tac not all Chinese or Japanese are 3ft anorexic midgets, I have seen enough Japanese Sumo wrestlers in my life to prove this.
The fact that China only has 4000 registered rugby player however does mean that they will never be competitive.
11 Aug 2010, 15:22 pm
The issue with the lack of black interest and player development in the poorer areas in our country, is the lack of sustainable development structures. Mobile clinics are farcical, it is akin to watching the Matrix and then believing that you can emulate Keanu Reeves physics defying movements, without the movie stage with attendant props and equipment to ensure the dodging of bullets and gravity. Rugby is an enormously technical game, the understanding of the rules as a first step is critical, with the rules changing pretty often it’s imperative that kids are continuous under tutelage to keep up to date with developing strategies to fully adapt to the rules. As strategies are so important the thinking element of the game has to become ingrained in the kids by constant interaction with skilled coaches.
Body conditioning, bespoke diets, drills, tackling and passing techniques, functions at the tackle point, scrums, lineouts, kick-offs, defensive lines etc., cannot all be taught in a two day clinic on the weekend and remain with the kids in perpetuity. There have to be established academies or development centres in the townships and villages, as the schools don’t have rugby fields and equipment, SARFU has to establish a junior club system with a competitive structure. Many of these kids after leaving school in the afternoon are more often than not, left to their own devices, the abovementioned structures would absorb this enormous number of talent but SARFU’s regional and local structures would have to work in tandem with the local schools. With this system one could introduce several hundred thousand kids into a sustained rugby culture.
Statistics alone dictates that with a bigger pool of players to develop and select from, will invariably mean in the South African scenario, there being more players of colour in representative senior teams in time, being selected on merit than whites, pure and simple. Any culture is acquired owing to opportunity and circumstance, blacks in South Africa did not invent soccer, it’s an adopted sport and then was fostered into the rubric of black culture as a dominant spectator and playing sport. There’s no reason that rugby cannot achieve a similar feat if not in part.
11 Aug 2010, 15:23 pm
@stormersboy(stormersboy)-127: Interesting, they have different dialects and languages in both countries though don’t they? Not sure how it could influence math but not sure if it couldn’t either so good call.
Decimal comes from the east, perhaps they have just been doing it longer and it’s embedded in the culture.
Anyway, they can’t play rugby, not that I have seen at least.
11 Aug 2010, 15:24 pm
@Agile T*t-Tyrant(Anairetes agilis)-129:
Well you wont find me disagreeing with any of that.
You cannot force a culture down on a person (sports culture in this context).
I will never like soccer, simple.
Nothing you can do will change that.
11 Aug 2010, 15:25 pm
@ufo(ufo)-133: I have stated my position many times and subsequently have been labelled many times…
Simply put, top-down prescription of hue-based selection is a perpetuation of wrongs made in the past. Full stop.
This is an observation made in current times and has no link to the past other than correlation by colour…
Talk right, walk left… Differs to
Talk left, walk right…
Think about it before labelling, as you do…
11 Aug 2010, 15:26 pm
@Tacitus(Tacitus)-57: Would I be fair if I were to say, “White South Africa” in its history of rugby has yet to produce anything close to the geniuses of the legendary Peter Mkata
11 Aug 2010, 15:26 pm
@stormersboy(stormersboy)-135:
cool… never been to China… would love to go…
11 Aug 2010, 15:27 pm
@goyougoodthing2(goyougoodthing2)-140: Yes, but they play a kick@ss game of tabletennis…..
11 Aug 2010, 15:29 pm
@Qudeni(Qudeni)-139: It is SARU not SARFU, they changed about 4 years ago.
I actually think you are wrong, genetics mean certain groups are better than others at certain things, like running, sprinting, basketball, rugby etc. Maybe they will, maybe they won’t.
11 Aug 2010, 15:30 pm
@XhosaKid(XhosaKid)-143: ???? Are you on drugs kid?
11 Aug 2010, 15:30 pm
@XhosaKid(XhosaKid)-143:
Does that comment deserve a response? If so, I am not the appropriate person to comment on Peter Ntaka’s genius or lack thereof. To the Birds with that, I say!
Hehehe, just trying to show off my rudimentary Xhosa with a little wordplay there. Probably got it wrong in any case.
11 Aug 2010, 15:31 pm
@goyougoodthing2(goyougoodthing2)-140: I hope you mean East, as in middle east. It is disputed whether the decimal system per se as the west started using it comes from China originally, unless your authoritative info comes from Wikipedia…
Simply: West <— Middle East <– India <— China or Japan has not been established and is in dispute
11 Aug 2010, 15:31 pm
@Qudeni(Qudeni)-139: There’s no doubt that a bigger pool would benefit SA in many ways, but as you say you can’t “hit and run” that sort of thing.
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